Ratna Vajra Rinpoche

Ratna Vajra Rinpoche was born in Dehradun, India, in 1974, the eldest son of His Holiness the 41st Sakya Trizin. He belongs to the Sakya school of Tibetan Buddhism, whose lineage is led by the Sakya Trizin, or throne holder.

He began formal study at six under Venerable Rinchen Sangpo, learning reading, writing, grammar and basic prayers. He joined Sakya College in 1990, studied Buddhist philosophy chiefly under the late Khenpo Migmar Tsering, and in 1998 completed the Kachupa degree, “master of ten scriptures.” From the age of twelve he also began meditation retreats, including the complete Hevajra retreat, one of the prerequisites for bestowing the Lamdre empowerments.

His teachers include his father, whom the Sakya Tradition biography calls his main root guru, along with Chogye Trichen Rinpoche, Luding Khenchen Rinpoche and Khenchen Appey Rinpoche.

On 9 March 2017 he accepted the leadership of the lineage from his father as the 42nd Sakya Trizin. A 43rd Sakya Trizin has since succeeded him; the office of the Sakya Trizin publishes the current arrangements on its own site.

In 2002 Gyalyum Kalden Dunkyi was chosen, through traditional Sakya divination, as his consort. They have three children.